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DEW DROPS 

from the 
Rifted Clouds 



DEW DROPS 

from the 
Rifted Clouds 

BY 
J. M. HUMPHREY 



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*The clouds drop down the dew'' 
Prov. 3:20 



TRUE GOSPEL GRAIN PUB. CO. 

1118 WEST SPRING STREET 

LIMA, OHIO 

1917 



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COPYBIQHT, 1917, BY 

J. M. HUMPHREY 



MAR 16 1917 


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©CI,A457479 


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This little volume 
is affectionately dedicated to 

Alice Taylor 

Georgetta Campbell 

and Lena Brown 

who are three of God's lilies 

that bloom in sunshine 

and shade 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

Introduction .... 9 

I. Clouds Veil the Sun . . 13 

II. Unity in the Clouds . 16 

III. Clouds Bring Blessings . 19 

IV. Clouds are only Tempo- 

rary 22 

V. Clouds are Impartial . 25 
VI. Clouds Travel Noise- 
lessly 27 

VII. Clouds Have a Bright 

Side 30 

VIII. Clouds Comfort ... 34 

IX. Clouds Adrift .... 37 
X. The Rainbow in the 

Clouds 38 

XL Clouds MAY BE Surmounted 41 
XII. Clouds — Visible and In- 
visible 47 

XIII. Clouds Encourage . . 49 

XIV. The ^^ Cloud of Glory" . 52 

7 



INTRODUCTION 

In view of the fact that inspiration has 
so much to say about the clouds, the 
writer does not deem it improper to care- 
fully study them and thereby obtain 
some helpful spiritual lessons. 

The clouds would no doubt have a 
greater significance to us if we would 
reflect and call to mind the many times 
they are mentioned in the scriptures, for 
they are there spoken of not less than 
one hundred and one times. We re- 
member that God led the children of 
Israel forty years with a pillar of cloud 
(Exd, 13:21). He also proclaimed to 
them the fiery law on Sinai's burning 
brow, from a thick cloud. — "And it 
came to pass on the third day in the morn- 
ing, that there were thunder and light- 
nings and a thick cloud upon the mount, 
and the voice of the trumpets exceeding 
9 



10 Dew Drops 



loud; so that all the people that was in 
the camp trembled. . . . And mount 
Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because 
the Lord descended upon it in fire." 
{Exd. 20:18.) 

After a grievous famine had prevailed 
in the land for three years and six months, 
God gave the prophet Elijah the evidence 
that his prayers for rain were answered 
by hanging out in the lower heavens a 
pillar of cloud. — "And Elijah went up to 
the top of Carmel; and he cast himself 
down upon the earth, and put his face 
between his knees, and said to his servant. 
Go up now, look toward the sea, and he 
went up, and looked, and said. There is 
nothing. And he said. Go again seven 
times. And it came to pass at the 
seventh time that he said. Behold, there 
ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like 
a man's hand." (1 Kg, 18:43-44.) 

Our blessed Redeemer went up to 
heaven in a bright cloud. "And when 
He had spoken these things, while they 



Introduction 11 



beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud re- 
ceived Him out of their sight." {Acts, 
1:19.) 

St. John prophesied of the Saviour's 
return as follows: "Behold He cometh 
with clouds; and every eye shall see him, 
and they also which pierced him: and 
all kindreds of the earth shall wail because 
of him. Even so. Amen." (Rev. 1:17.) 
"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, 
and upon the cloud one sat like unto the 
Son of man, having on his head a golden 
crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle." 
(Rev. 14:14.) 

In the chapters that follow my eflfort 
shall be in a simple way to draw some 
spiritual lessons from the clouds. 

J. M. H. 

December, 1916. 



DEW DROPS 

from the Rifted Clouds 

Chapter I 
Clouds Veil the Sun 

The first lesson brought to us through 
the clouds, namely, the collection of 
visible vapor suspended in the atmos- 
phere, is how small things can accumulate 
and hide the face of God from our souls. 
Who, looking upon a cloud of smoke or 
steam ascending into the air, would think 
that a collection of such small particles 
could veil the face of the sun which is 
said to be twelve hundred thousand times 
larger than the earth? So it is with 
small sins, such as bywords, jesting, 
foolish talking, slackness, indifference, 
negligence and broken vows. |They 
gradually hide the face of God and fill 
the soul with shoreless gloom. 
IS 



14 Dew Drops 



There are hundreds of religious people 
in the land to-day whose spiritual sky at 
one time was as clear as the noon-day 
sun, but they gradually grew slack on 
various lines and commenced to trifle 
with doubtful things. And, as a result, 
to-day the cloud of "no harm things" 
has grown so dense that it has completely 
hid the face of God from view and filled 
their souls with impenetrable darkness. 
They failed to walk while they had light, 
hence it became darkness. They failed 
to heed the solemn warning of the Son 
of God in the following words — *'Take 
heed therefore, that the light which is in 
thee be not darkness. If therefore the 
light that is in thee be darkness, how great 
is that darkness!" (Matt 6:22, Luke 
11:36.) 

O that men would realize the great 
danger that lurks beneath what the world 
calls "small sins"! It was only a trivial 
act of disobedience that eclipsed the 
"Sun of Righteousness" in the souls of 



Clouds Veil the Sun 15 

Adam and Eve, blighted Eden and en- 
tailed sin and death upon all of their 
sons and daughters. 

It was only a small act of disobedience 
on the part of King David in numbering 
the children of Israel, that caused seventy 
thousand innocent men, women and chil- 
dren to be slain by pestilence. (2 Sam, 
24:15-16.) 

Reader, if you would always have an 
unclouded sky and live beneath the ever 
beaming rays of an unsetting sun, allow 
no creature, thing or place to get between 
your soul and the "Sun of Righteous- 
ness." 

"Nothing between like worldly pleasure. 
Habits of life tho' harmless they seem, 
Must not my heart from Him ever sever. 
He is my all, there's nothing between." 



Chapter II 
Unity in the Clouds 

The next valuable lesson brought to us 
through the white- winged vapors that fly 
over our heads, is the importance of 
unity. If the clouds should remain thin- 
ly scattered throughout the azure vault, 
the earth would never be blessed with a 
single shower of rain. Hence, in order to 
give us rain, it is absolutely necessary 
that they come together and form a body. 
Instinctively they seem to be aware of 
this fact and hurry from east, west, north 
and south whenever Jehovah orders rain. 
O that the present day church would 
awake to the vast importance of unity! 
If she ever receives the cloud-burst from 
Pentecostal skies for which she has been 
praying for years, there must first be a 
mighty coming together as did the dry 
bones in Ezekiel's vision. In the days of 
16 



Unity in the Clouds 17 

the apostles she was like a mighty army 
withstanding all of the powers of earth 
and hell, but to-day Sata,n has so suc- 
ceeded in separating her adherents that 
she is as weak as a shadow and as tame 
as a house cat. The spirit of egotism, 
greed, lust and leadership has split her 
into almost a thousand factions. 

"A thousand grains or a thousand bar- 
rels of powder scattered, a grain in a place 
and fired at intervals, would burn, it is 
true, but would produce no concussion. 
Placed together in effective position, 
they would lift up a mountain, and cast 
it into the sea. Even so the whole 
Church, filled with faith, and fired by the 
Holy Ghost who gave the tongues of 
fire on the day of Pentecost, will remove 
every mountain, fill up every valley, 
cast up the highway of the Lord, and 
usher in the jubilee of the redemption." 

Reader, let us have this unity at any 
cost, even though it cause us to renounce 
our preconceived notions and tear down 



18 Dew Drops 



our many walls of separation. Shall we 

have it? Unless we do, our efforts for 

the salvation of men are vain. 

'* Endeavouring to keep the unity of 

the Spirit in the bond of peace." {Eph, 

4:3.) 

"Lord, while for all mankind we pray, 
Of ev'ry clime and coast, 
O hear us for the godly men 
The ones we love the most. 



Unite us in the sacred love 
Of knowledge, truth, and thee 

And help us sing in ev'ry clime 
The song of * Unity.' " 



Chapter III 
Clouds Bring Blessings 

It is true most people like fair weather 
and have quite a distaste for cloudy, dark 
weather. We believe, however, that a 
moment's reflection would cause them to 
change their views and at least renounce 
a degree of their former prejudice. The 
clouds are by no means to be despised for 
they bring us blessings which the sun 
could never bestow. If there were no 
clouds, we would never receive showers. 
If it were not for the April and May 
clouds spreading themselves over the 
sky, the sun with its torrid glare at mid- 
day would scorch and destroy all of the 
tender vegetables and infant fruit. 
Therefore, to prevent this wholesale de- 
struction, God in tender mercy gives us 
the spring clouds and showers. 

Equally so is it in the spiritual life; if 
19 



20 Dew Drops 



He should give us the sunshine of joy 
and ecstasy all the time and withhold 
the clouds of depression and showers of 
tears it would seriously aflFect us in the 
following way. (a) It would cause us to 
walk by sight instead of by faith, (b) It 
would cause us to grow independent and 
spiritually proud, (c) It would make us 
superficial and top-heavy. We would 
not grow downward, but all stalk and 
foliage, (d) It would make us one-sided 
in our teaching, that is, we would not 
have an all round experience such as 
would make us a blessing to all classes, 
both the blessed ones and the tempted 
ones. We would only know of the joy 
side, but nothing of the cross, pressure 
and warfare side. 

Therefore, in preparing us to help all 
classes, God finds it necessary to send 
both the sunshine and the clouds, the 
seasons of joy and the showers of tears. 
He sends the uplifts for upward growth 
and the seasons of heaviness and depres- 



Clouds Bring Blessings 21 

sion for the downward growth. "That 
ye, always having all sufficiency in all 
things, may abound to every good work." 
(2 Cor. 9:8.) 

The clouds are yielding blessings 

The sun cannot bestow. 
And shadows teaching lessons 

No ancient sage could know. 
All things for good are working 

And not the slightest ill. 
But you must keep on trusting 

And in your Father's will. 



Chapter IV 
Clouds are Temporary 

The third lesson brought to us by the 
clouds is in the fact that they are tempo- 
rary and do not always abide. Many 
times when the morning is gloomy, mid- 
day is clear and bright; or if the night 
is dark and threatening, morning brings 
a cloudless day and a sun-kissed world. 

At this point the saddest and most 
forlorn human being upon earth, no 
matter what his lot may be, can take 
heart, in view of the fact that the longest 
day, darkest night, loudest storm and 
most thorny path, sometime and some- 
where come to an end. Joseph found it 
so, after being tempted, pressed, slan- 
dered, deserted, buffeted and imprisoned 
for many years. But unexpectedly one 
day the clouds rifted, the burden lifted 
and his soul soared upward on the wings 



Clouds are Temporary 



of divine favor into an unclouded sky 
of kingly honor and endless fame. Praise 
God! 

The patriarch Job also found it so, 
after weathering a long, dark night of 
adversity, persecution, criticism, mis- 
understanding and affliction. But finally 
his long rough path and dark night ended 
and the Great God who comforteth those 
that are cast down, came to his rescue. 
Yes, He who left these comforting words 
on record long ago for His tempest-tossed 
children. — "Fear not; for thou shalt not 
be ashamed : neither be thou confounded; 
for thou shalt not be put to shame; for 
thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, 
and shalt not remember the reproach of 
thy widowhood any more. For a small 
moment have I forsaken thee; but with 
great mercies will I gather thee. In a 
little wrath I hid my face from thee for a 
moment; but with everlasting kindness 
will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord 
thy redeemer." {Isa. 54:4-7.) 



24 Dew Drops 



Those who labored, sacrificed and suf- 
fered for their Blessed Lord in the ages 
long ago, have long since entered the 
haven of rest and are now reposing be- 
neath the tree of life in the sweet fields of 
Eden. Reader, take heart and be faith- 
ful, for your trials will some day end, and 
God will call you from labor to reward. 
Observe what a comforting promise He 
has left on record to cheer and encourage 
weary pilgrims such as yourself. — "He 
that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing 
precious seed, shall doubtless come again 
with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with 
him." {PsL 126:6.) 

O don't lose hope, dear pilgrim. 

And count the way too long, 
But press a little further. 

And join the white robed throng. 



Chapter V 
Clouds are Impartial 

Still another thought that dawns upon 
our mind is this, the clouds cannot be 
influenced by the wealthy, but are per- 
fectly impartial. They spread their 
black wings over the gilded-top palace as 
frequently as over the lowly hovel. 
Equally so is it with the murky clouds of 
disease, misfortune, sorrow and death. 
They visit all of the children of Adam 
alike. The writer has long since learned 
that chariots, wealth, gilded-top mansions 
and robes of silk and gold could not dis- 
perse the angry clouds of disease, sorrow, 
heartaches and death. But at some 
time in life they shadow every home in 
every land. No human tongue can tell 
and no author's pen describe the many 
clouds of domestic infelicity that are 
hovering over millions of American 
25 



26 Dew Drops 



homes. This fully explains why many 
are taking their own lives who are robed 
in silks and gems. It requires something 
more than gold to impart lasting happi- 
ness to a human spirit. 

These rueful clouds and wolfy winds 
are also revealing the long hidden secret, 
why the courts are overrun with divorce 
cases. 

O who can disperse these dark threat- 
ening clouds and impart peace and un- 
disturbed felicity! No one but Jesus 
Christ, the Redeemer of the world. 

O think of the many dark clouds of 
poverty, disappointment, shame and 
disgrace that are hovering over number- 
less lives tonight, that refuse to be chased 
away. 

"Weep all of every name! Begin the woe. 
Ye woods, and tell it to the doleful winds, 
And doleful winds, wail to the howling hills; 
And howling hills, mourn to the dismal vales. 
And dismal vales, sigh to the sorrowing brooks. 
And sorrowing brooks, weep to the weeping 

streams. 
And weeping streams, awake the groaning deep; 
And let the instruments take up the song 
Responsive to the voice, harmonious woe." 



Chapter VI 
Clouds Travel Noiselessly 

Through the clouds traveling so noise- 
lessly east, west, north and south, we are 
strongly reminded of the ''Reaper 
Death" who travels daily from home to 
home, city to city, country to country 
and clime to clime without ever being 
seen or heard by mortal man. He, like 
some great eagle darts down suddenly 
here and there upon his prey aiid hur- 
riedly flies away, but not to the mountain 
peak to there devour it, but to never- 
ending eternity. He not only seeks his 
prey in hospitals, and sickrooms but 
darts down upon men and women on 
their healthiest day and in the hour of 
their greatest security by way of railroad 
wrecks, automobile accidents, sinking 
vessels, burning buildings and haunts of 
mirth. O, what an enemy to the human 
27 



Dew Drops 



race ! If it were possible for men to locate 
this trackless foe and find out just when 
he would call, they would no doubt be 
more prepared, but his steps are so noise- 
less and his coming so uncertain that he 
finds almost two-thirds of the human 
race unprepared. It is true the Father 
of spirits has told them numberless times 
and in numberless ways to be ready but 
despite all His admonition, death finds 
the greater part of the children of Adam 
unprepared. 

Reader, if this invisible, noiseless foe 
should pounce down upon you this mo- 
ment, would you be ready .^^ Remember, 
he waits for no one but all must go imme- 
diately when he calls. O, awful thought ! 

No doubt you have a faint idea of 
what it would mean to have a foot-pad 
or a highwayman spring suddenly out of a 
dark alley or walk-way with a revolver 
leveled in your face. Just so will death 
suddenly and noiselessly some day step 
out and arrest and take you away from 



Clouds Travel Noiselessly 29 

family, friends and business to the land 

of the evermore. 

"Death enters, and there's no defense; 
His time there's none can tell; 
He'll in a moment call thee hence. 
To heaven or down to hell. 

Thy flesh, perhaps thy greatest care. 

Shall into dust consume; 
But ah! destruction stops not there; 

Sin kills beyond the tomb." 



Chapter VII 
Clouds Have a Bright Side 

No MATTER how dark and threatening the 
clouds may appear from man's point of 
view, they always have a brighter side. 
So it is with our condition and lot in life. 
It is true they may sometimes seem ill and 
disadvantageous, but on observing them 
closely and comparing them with many 
around us, we will not only discover that 
they are much better than we thought, 
but will find great reasons to praise God. 
There are thousands in the world to-day 
who would quickly change places with 
you and seize with delight the things 
which you are now murmuring about and 
counting intolerable. 

We once read a story of a farmer boy 

who envied another little boy who passed 

his gate daily in a glittering surrey, drawn 

by a beautiful spirited pony. He envied 

30 



Clouds Have a Bright Side SI 

his condition to the extent that he prayed 
for the Lord to make him that boy. How- 
ever, one day on passing this little boy's 
home he saw him in the yard or upon the 
porch and discovered the fact that he was 
paralyzed and could not walk a step. 
So the next time he went to prayer, he 
told the Lord that he did not care to be 
that boy, but was satisfied to remain 
himself. 

Reader, are you like this farmer boy, 
praying for God to make you like some- 
one else.^ If God should answer your 
prayer you might regret the change with- 
in an hour's time. Therefore, cheer up, 
and thank God for what you are, where 
you are, what you have and what you 
have not, and goon your way rejoicing in 
the fact that you are still yourself. 

The apostle Paul said — ''I have 
learned, in whatsoever state I am, there- 
with to be content." (Phil. 4:11.) 

As for a little more money and a 
little more time, why it's ten to one, if 



32 Dew Drops 



either one or the other would make you 
one whit happier. If you had more 
time, it would be sure to hang heavily. 
It is the working man who is the happy 
man. Man was made to be active, and 
he is never so happy as when he is so. 
It is the idle man who is the miserable 
man. What comes of holidays, and far 
too often of sight-seeing, but evil.^ Half 
the harm that happens is on these days. 
And, as for money — don't you remem- 
ber the old saying, ''Enough is as good as 
a feast?" Money never made a man 
happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing 
in its nature to produce happiness. The 
more a man has, the more he wants. 
Instead of it filling a vacuum, it makes 
one. If it satisfies one want, it doubles 
and trebles that want another way. 
That was a true proverb of the wise man, 
rely upon it. "Better is little with the 
fear of the Lord, than great treasure, and 
trouble therewith." Therefore, con- 
tinue to "Rejoice evermore. Pray without 



Clouds Have a Bright Side 33 

ceasing. In everything give thanks : for 
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus con- 
cerning you." (1 Thess. 5:16-18.) 

** Contentment gives a crown 
Where fortune has denied it." 



Chapter VIII 
Clouds Comfort 

When the child of God to-day beholds 
the inky-black clouds draping the heav- 
ens and to-morrow sees the same heavens 
clear as crystal and mantled with golden 
sunlight, the striking contrast will cause 
him to realize more fully to what extent 
God has canceled and blotted out his 
past sins. For He made the following 
statement in His word long ago : "I have 
blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy trans- 
gressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins." 
(/^a. 44:22.) 

It is true, Satan sometimes taunts even 
the best of Christians with the annoying 
thought of their past sins arising some 
day and condemning them; but a mo- 
ment's reflection on their part would put 
him to flight immediately. For all they 
need to do is to remember what God has 
34 



Clouds Comfort 



said in the following words regarding their 
sins of the past: "I, even I, am he that 
blotteth out thy transgressions for mine 
own sake and will not remember thy 
sins." (/^a. 43:25.) 

'*And as far as the east is from the 
west, so far hath he removed our trans- 
gressions from us." (PsL 103:12.) 
Reader, if you can tell me how far the 
east is from the west I will tell you how 
far away God has removed your sins and 
follies of the past. 

"But thou hast in love to my soul 
delivered it from the pit of corruption: 
for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy 
back." {Isa, 38:17.) "And thou wilt 
cast all their sins into the depths of the 
sea." (Micah 7:19,) 

"A man may be pardoned by the gover- 
nor of the state for the crime which he 
may have committed, even murder, but 
I am quite sure that with the governor's 
pardon, there would be a sense of sorrow 
for sin and a feeling of deepest remorse 



36 Dew Drops 



as the remembrance of a great transgres- 
sion would sweep over him; all which 
proves that the governor's pardon would 
set the oflfender free from prison, but it 
could not wipe away the stain of sin. 
But when God pardons He justifies freely 
and for ever. When one is justified, he 
is set in a new relation to God; his past 
sins are blotted out. He stands before 
God with condemnation put away and 
as if he had never sinned." 

Reader, the next time Satan assails 
you about your sins and misdoings of 
the past, tell him they are twelve thou- 
sand miles behind you in a body of water 
five miles deep. 

He'll remember no more thy follies of yore, 
'Tho oft thou has't broken His just holy law. 



Chapter IX 
Clouds Adrift 

Yes, drifting by on the clouds of time 

Is seen an hopeless one. 
Who might be drawn with the cord of love 

To Christ the "Central Sun." 

Yes, drifting by on the clouds of time 

Are moments to redeem; 
A whole lifetime at the hour of death 

Will but a moment seem. 

Yes, drifting by on the clouds of time 

Is seen an only chance^ 
To bless a foe or relieve a friend 

Or Father's cause advance. 

Yes, drifting by on the clouds of time 

Are promises divine. 
Of wealth untold and a crown of gold 

That will the sun outshine. 
37 



Chapter X 
The Rainbow in the Clouds 

The most sublime objects beheld by- 
mortal eyes in this sin cursed world are 
the setting sun surrounded by mountains 
of golden-tinted clouds, the blushing 
queen of night and her virgin host, and 
the "Rainbow of Promise" with its many 
tender hues, spanning the azure vault. 

What wonderful preachers ! What un- 
defiled, undying witnesses ! 

Let us briefly notice a few of the many 
things that the "Bow of Promise" has to 
say to the children of Adam from age to 
age, as they pass along the highway of 
time en route to the judgment. 

1. Its first testimony is that God can- 
not lie, neither is slack concerning His 
promises but will faithfully keep every 
one, made to the children of men. There- 
fore, occasionally when He sees Satan 
38 



The Rainbow in the Clouds 



assailing men, trying to destroy their 
conjfidence in His promises, He hangs out 
the "Bow of Promise" in the clouds. 
Praise His Name ! 

2. Notwithstanding the many con- 
vincing arguments of the critics and 
agnostics refuting the story of Noah and 
the flood, the rainbow still testifies to the 
fact, as of old, that the story is true. 

3. In order to prevent busy man in 
his incessant chase after the phantom of 
gain, from forgetting God, the coming of 
Jesus and a final reckoning day, God 
occasionally puts His bow in the clouds. 

4. The wonderful transformation in 
the color of the drops of water forming the 
rainbow caused by the rays from the sun, 
gives us a faint idea of how a human spirit 
can be transformed by the everbeaming 
rays from the "Sun of Righteousness," 
from sin and rank defilement to holiness 
and happiness; and from roughness, hard- 
ness and harshness to meekness, patience, 
gentleness, kindness and never failing 



40 Dew Drops 



love. O, the wonderful transforming 

power of the blood of Jesus Christ! 

"Throughout his soul thy glories shine. 
His soul is all renew'd. 
And decked in righteousness divine 
And clothed and filled with God/' 



Chapter XI 
Clouds May Be Surmounted 

It is said of that royal bird, known as the 
eagle, that it will not allow the clouds to 
accumulate and completely hide the sun 
from its view; but keeps on the watch all 
the while, and if it sees a storm-cloud 
rising in the distance, it prunes its large 
pinions and mounts above the clouds. 
Therefore, while man, beasts and other 
fowls are weathering storms and dark 
clouds, the eagle is circling a crystaline 
sky beneath the meridian blaze of the 
king of day, in undisturbed felicity. 

While God has bestowed upon this 
royal bird the power and wisdom to thus 
avoid storms and darkening clouds which 
other creatures have to submit to. He has 
also made a similar provision in the realms 
of grace, so that those who care to, and 
meet the conditions, may surmount and 
41 



42 Dew Drops 



live above the clouds of worry, fret, per- 
plexity, blues, doubts, fears and dis- 
couragement. 

Let us hurriedly notice the Divine 
prescription for this living above the 
clouds. 

The first ofie will be found in the thirty- 
seventh Psalm, in the fifth and seventh 
verses. Medically speaking, it contains 
four tablet-powders, namely, *' commit," 
"trust," "rest," and "wait." . . . 
''Commit thy ways unto the Lord; trust 
also in him; and he shall bring it to pass 
... Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently 
for him." 

Another prescription will be found in 
the following words, "Cast thy burden 
upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee." 
(PsL 55:22,) Reader, this means your 
every care. 

In Matthew (6:22) will be found 
another one of these prescriptions. It 
reads as follows. "The light of the 
body is the eye: if therefore thine eye 



Clouds May Be Surmounted 43 

be single, thy whole body shall be full of 
light." The thought suggested here by 
the Saviour, is that we keep a single eye 
to the glory of God in all we do or say, 
and by so doing, we will keep above the 
dark clouds of condemnation. 

The next prescription will be found in 
Paul's letter to the Colossian church, in 
the third chapter and the second and 
third verses, which read as follows, **Set 
your affections on things above, not on 
things on the earth. For ye are dead 
and your life is hid with Christ in God." 

In the following lines the writer wishes 
to offer a few additional suggestions on 
how to surmount and live above the 
clouds all the time. 

1. Never yield to the spirit of light- 
ness, talkativeness and negligence, if so, 
you will lose the spirit of prayer and 
praise, which are the wings by which the 
soul rises above the clouds of earth and hell. 

2. Never become so attached to any 
created thing, that you could not imme- 



44 Dew Drops 



diately give it up, if need be, without the 
least rebelUon or backtalk to God. 

3. Always keep a willing spirit to obey 
God and walk in all known light new or 
old. This will prevent your ever being 
preached into a cloudy state of soul, even 
by the straightest and closest preacher 
in the world, from the fact that he will 
not be able to tell you anything under 
God in his sermon, that you are not 
already consecrated to do before he tells 
you. This will keep you always in a 
clear place. 

4. No matter what others do or say, 
you must keep in the clearest track and 
brightest light, ever remembering that 
"If the righteous scarcely be saved, where 
shall the ungodly and sinner appear .f^" 

5. Be sure you are right in everything 
you do, say, or to which you lend your 
influence, for dark clouds always accom- 
pany doubtful conduct. 

6. In conversing, always speak care- 
fully, thoughtfully and sparingly, lest 



Clouds May Be Surmounted 45 

in a rash remark you grieve God and stain 
your own conscience. 

7. Never do or say anything that has 
ever brought a shadow of condemnation 
upon your soul in the past. For what 
was once Ught is always light — all the 
way to the glory world. 

8. Always bear in mind that slackness 
is among your greatest enemies, and that 
there is nothing more liable to cool you 
off, becloud your sky and suddenly lead 
you into a snare than becoming slack on 
various lines. Admitting slackness on 
small lines has caused the writer weeks of 
spiritual gloom and inward pain. 

9. Never borrow trouble, cross bridges 
before you reach them, or meddle in other 
men's matters. Your only business upon 
earth is to worship God in the beauty of 
holiness and win precious souls to His 
kingdom. 

10. Never retire at night, while there 
remains a shadow between your soul and 
God, for you may never awake in this 



46 Dew Drops 



world again. Be like the eagle, always 
live above the clouds. 

"No cloud doth arise to darken my skies. 
Or hide for one moment the Lord from mine eyes." 



Chapter XII 
Clouds Visible and Invisible 

There are times when the clouds are 
visible to the eye of man and other times 
when they melt away to viewless vapor, 
yet they still exist. This will no doubt 
give us some idea of the glorified body 
which we shall receive at the resurrection 
of the just. 

Our blessed Redeemer after rising from 
the dead possessed a spiritual body — 
one that at times was visible and at other 
times was invisible. Notice what in- 
spiration has to say on the subject. 
"And as they thus spake, Jesus himself 
stood in the midst of them, and said unto 
them. Peace be unto you. But they were 
terrified and affrighted, and supposed 
that they had seen a spirit." (Luke 24: 
36-37.) "And it came to pass as he sat 
at meat with them, he took bread, and 
47 



48 Dew Drops 



blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 
And their eyes were opened and they knew 
him; and he vanished out of their sight. 
And they said one to another, Did not 
our hearts burn within us, while he talked 
with us by the way, and while he opened 
to us the scripture.?" (Luke 24:31-32.) 

The apostle Paul no doubt had this 
same thought in mind regarding the 
glorified body when he penned the fol- 
lowing lines, "For this corruptible must 
put on incorruption and this mortal shall 
put on immortality : then shall be brought 
to pass the saying that is written. Death 
is swallowed up in victory." 

A snow white cloud flying slowly and 
majestically across the blue vault is in- 
deed a beautiful emblem of a resurrected, 
glorified saint, resplendent with divinity, 
floating on the light, elastic air up to the 
gates of glistening pearl. O hallelujah 

to the Lamb that was slain! 

"Immortal now in soul and body both. 
Beyond Death's reach, stood all the sons of men, 
And saw, behind, his valley lie unf eared." 



Chapter XIII 
Clouds Encourage 

At times some of God's most faithful 
children are tempted to believe that they 
are almost alone in the fight, besides that 
their best efforts are vain. At such 
times, however, it would be quite an in- 
centive to strength and courage to cast a 
hurried glance into the sky upon the 
mountains of drifting clouds, and then 
reflect a moment, and remember that 
there is '*a cloud of witnesses" on either 
side of the river of death. What saith 
the scripture? ''Wherefore seeing we 
also are compassed about with so great 
a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every 
weight, and the sin which doth so easily 
beset us." It is true, however, that 
sometimes it appears to the child of God 
that there are only a few people serving 
God in reality, but this temptation can 
49 



50 Dew Drops 



be quickly put to flight by calling to mind 
the fact that he still has seven thousand 
who have never bowed their knees to 
Baal, neither have kissed his toe. There 
is still ''a cloud of witnesses" in almost 
every land to-day singing the praise of 
Jesus Christ and keeping the banner of 
full salvation unfurled to the breeze. 
Hallelujah to the Lamb! 

There is not only ''a cloud of witnesses" 
in active service, but a volley of burning 
testimonies are coming from invalid 
chairs, sick-rooms, hospitals and death 
beds, all of which are boldly declaring 
that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son 
cleanseth from all sin. 

Not only this, but according to the 
testimony of Saint John, there is "a 
cloud of witnesses" in the glory world 
testifying to the same truth. Let us 
hear what John has to say about them in 
the following lines: "And they sang a 
new song, saying, Thou art worthy to 
take the book, and to open the seals 



Clouds Encourage 51 

thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast 

redeemed us to God by thy blood out of 

every kindred and tongue, and people 

and nation . . . and the number of them 

was ten thousand times ten thousand and 

thousands of thousands." (Rev, 5:9-11.) 

Reader, this statement does not sound as 

if we were alone or singlehanded in the 

fight. 

" O what a band we belong to. 
We belong to the blood wash'd band!" 



Chapter XIV 
The " Cloud of Glory'' 

There is hardly a more inspiring object 
beheld in the firmaments than a sunlit 
pillar of cloud, lifting its white-capped 
head high into the blue vault. On seeing 
such a beautiful object the thoughtful 
child of God is instantly reminded, first, 
of the time when ''The Lord said unto 
Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick 
cloud. . . . Go unto the people, and 
sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and 
let them wash their clothes, and be ready 
against the third day: for the third day 
the Lord will come down in the sight of 
all the people upon mount Sinai." {Exd. 
19:9-11.) 

Second : It instantly causes the believer 
to reflect and behold with the eye of imag- 
ination the divinely appointed pillar of 
snow-white cloud, floating in majestic 
52 



The ''Cloud of Glory'' 53 

beauty over the camp of ancient Israel, 
pointing out the way to the land of 
promise. 

Third: After beholding a mountain of 
snow-like cloud, the believer's mind flies 
quickly back over the track of finished 
time until it reaches that glorious day 
when Solomon's temple was dedicated to 
the God of Israel. The record reads as 
follows : *' And when they lifted up their 
voices with the trumpets and cymbals 
and instruments of music, and praised 
the Lord, saying. For he is good; for his 
mercy endureth forever: that then the 
house was filled with a cloud, even the 
house of the Lord; so that the priest could 
not stand to minister by reason of the 
cloud: for the glory of the Lord had 
filled the house of God." (2 Chron. 5 :13- 
14.) 

Lastly: On beholding a mountain of 
snow-white cloud lifting its glittering 
head far up into the blue vault, the be- 
liever is thereby reminded of the rapidly 



54 Dew Drops 



approaching hour when he shall behold 
with astonishment and wonder, the 
"Great White Throne" encircled with a 
cloud of ineffable glory, and the King of 
kings and Lord of lords "High and lifted 
up." O, what a wondrous sight ! What 
a moment of unspeakable joy it will be 
when all the saints behold the glorious 
countenance of God! "In that moment 
all other light will be swallowed up and 
all other objects fade, while the Incar- 
nate, visible alone, holds every eye upon 
Him fixed/' 

"Sing loud and wave 
Your palms of triumph! sing, Where is thy sting, 
O Death! where is thy victory, O Grave! 
Thanks be to God, eternal thanks, who gave 
Us victory through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 
Harp! lift thy voice on high! shout, angels, shout! 
And loudest, ye redeemed! Glory to God, 
And to the Lamb, all glory and all praise. 
All glory and all praise, at morn and eve. 
That come and go eternally, and find 
Us happy still, and Thee forever blessed! 
Glory to God and to the Lamb. Amen. 
For ever, and for evermore, Amen." 



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